5 Signs Your Hair is Overprocessed: Know When To Stop
When it comes to achieving the perfect look, many of us tend to push our hair through a lot—coloring, straightening, bleaching, and more. But there comes a point when your hair simply can’t take it anymore. Such a situation is called hair overprocessing.
This issue is widespread and affects many women around the world. According to a research report, 67% of women in Kenya with Afro hair reported serious effects, such as hair thinning, allergic reactions, scalp pain, etc., after using different brands of hair relaxers. Well, this is not just an area-specific report but a global phenomenon that requires imminent attention.
That’s why we have curated a list of the top five signs that your hair is overprocessed and needs a break.
Severe Dryness and Breakage
One of the first red flags of over-processed hair is severe dryness. Chemical treatments like bleaching and coloring open up your hair’s cuticle layer to allow products to penetrate. As a result, your hair’s natural moisture may get oozed out to make it dry.
On top of that, over-usage of heating tools can weaken your hair’s protein bond. Over time, this may cause the hair to break off at mid-lengths or even near the roots.
Unfortunately, many of the chemical treatments used in styling, particularly hair straighteners, have been linked to significant damage. As a result, many consumers have initiated legal actions like filing hair straightener lawsuit cases to report harm caused by toxic chemicals.
As per TorHoerman Law, several lawsuits were filed and even a multidistrict Litigation (MDL) was formed. Nowadays, brands that sell health products like hair relaxers now have more pressure to warn consumers about potential risks.
Loss of Shine
Healthy hair can be identified just by seeing the shiny outer layer. To understand that, let’s check out how exactly permanent dye works to make your hair glossy.
Color dyes work by opening up your cuticle for the pigment to enter. But when your hair is overprocessed, it becomes rough. Eventually, the cuticle becomes uneven and scatters light instead of reflecting it. In 2022, 26.9% of hair product launches from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa featured a damaged hair claim.
To retain the shining feature, you need to nourish the hair more. Protein treatments can speed up the process, but recovery will surely take time.
Changes in Texture
If your hair seems to be constantly struggling with frizz even right after brushing, it could be a sign of over-processing. Actually, frizz occurs when moisture seeps in through your open hair cuticle. However, when it comes to over-processing, the cuticle is not just lifted but broken. As a result, the hair’s ability to retain moisture will be affected, and it will swell slowly.
The worst part is that such damaged cuticles can easily catch on each other, which creates more knots. Plus, it further leads to more damage when you try to detangle. As per stats, 56% of the users of certain hair straightener products lost more than 40% of their hair.
That means you must treat the cause before it worsens. Consider using silicone-based serums designed to repair hair from the inside out. Above all, resist the temptation to go for more chemical treatments.
Split Ends And Thinning
Your hair naturally grows in cycles. But when exposed to excessive chemical treatments or heat, the ends of your hair become weak and start to split. That makes your inner layer more vulnerable to fray.
If left untreated, these split ends will continue to travel up the hair shaft. Thinning can also occur because over-processing weakens the hair from the root. Over time, your hair density may fall considerably.
Regular trims are the best solution to handle split ends. Even though it may seem counterproductive to cut your hair when you’re trying to grow it, trimming the damaged ends prevents further breakage.
Color Fading Quickly
Take a close look at your hair through a well-lit mirror. Is the color fading away quickly? Well, when your hair is overexposed to chemicals, your cuticles may get damaged. It will allow water to enter and strip the color molecules away. This way, your strong hair color may fade after just a few washes.
As per stats, a typical consumer’s spending per hair care product exceeded USD 10 globally in 2022. However, not all that money guarantees the health of your hair. Many of these products contain unnecessary chemicals that, rather than protecting your hair, can strip away its natural vitality. Therefore, instead of relying just on chemicals, try to protect your hair with more natural solutions.
